People, Culture & Change
Wednesday 23 September 2026 | 9:00am – 4:00pm
Join us online for a full day of insight, practical learning and thought-provoking discussion, bringing together leading voices from across public sector HR, OD, leadership and beyond.
Free for PPMA Members | £100 for Non-Members
CONFERENCE STARTS IN
9:00 – 9:15
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Sandra Farquharson
President of the PPMA and Director of HR & Organisational Development at Hackney Council
9:15 – 10:00
Workforce Transformation & The Impact of Local Government Reform (LGR)
Trudy Forster
Deputy Chief Executive, North Yorkshire Council and Vice-President of the PPMA
Following the government’s recent announcement of a comprehensive review and pause on current LGR plans, local authorities face an era of profound structural uncertainty.
In this insightful Masterclass, Trudy shares crucial, practical lessons from North Yorkshire’s own completed reorganisation. Explore how to successfully navigate workforce transformation, culture change, leadership, employee engagement and organisational development — and how to effectively manage people through shifting national policy landscapes to ensure councils continue to effectively serve their communities.
10:00 – 10:25
Real Growth, Real Impact – From Application to PPMA National Award:
Julie Biggs
PPMA Talent Programmes and Awards Manager
Standout PPMA Talent Programme and Award winners share their journeys to national recognition. Discover award winning practice in action in this virtual fireside chat. The critical workforce insights they gained, how they navigated the path to success, and how to use their blueprints to drive real impact in your own organisations.
10:25 – 10:45
Break
10:45 – 11:30
Emotional Intelligence
Managing Wellbeing and Resilience in Times of Change and Challenge
Gayle Hudson
The Staff College
Join Gayle Hudson from The Staff College for an insightful session exploring the power of emotional intelligence in building healthier, more resilient workplaces. In a world of increasing pressure, complexity and constant change, understanding how we recognise, manage and respond to emotions has never been more important.
Discover how emotional intelligence can help you navigate challenging situations, strengthen workplace relationships and support both individual and organisational resilience. This session will explore how greater emotional awareness can help create positive workplace cultures where people feel supported, connected and better equipped to thrive through change.
11:30 -12:15
The Then and The Now: Leading the New Workplace Culture of Human and AI Collaboration
Sam Smith
SOCTIM
Join the Socitm Digital Masterclass with Sam Smith and discover how to navigate the rapid rise of automation and implement the critical ethical guardrails needed when introducing AI to your HR frameworks. This high-impact session reveals the realities of accountability, budgeting, and vital insights into exactly who answers if AI gets it wrong? This session will conclude with a live 10-minute Q&A to answer your key questions.
12:15 – 13:00
Lunch
13:00 – 14:00
The EHRC’s Updated 2026 Services Code in Practice
Navigating the Services Code in the Public Sector
Sean Hick
Capsticks
The EHRC’s Updated 2026 EHRC Services Code in Practice – Navigating The Services Code in the Public Sector:
The EHRC’s updated statutory Code of Practice is officially in force, marking the biggest shake-up to equality guidance in 15 years. Join for a high-impact legal breakdown of what the new rules mean for your organisation from Sean Hick, Partner at Capsticks.
For public sector HR and OD leaders, attending this session is essential. Get the vital insights you need to confidently update your internal policies, diversity frameworks, and workplace facilities with an invaluable live 10-minute Q&A to get your compliance questions answered by the experts.
14:00 – 15:00
Turning Organisational Complexity into Impact
Leading Through Change: Why Political Astuteness is an Essential Tool for HR and OD
Professor Jean Hartley
Emeritus Professor at the Open Univerity
Join global expert Professor Jean Hartley for a practical masterclass on The 5 Dimensions of Political Astuteness.
Discover how to confidently navigate complex political environments, build strategic influence and drive positive organisational impact, even in highly volatile times.
15:00 – 15:50
The Commissioner’s Lens
What Every HR Director Needs to Know About Corporate Failure and Recovery
Pam Parkes
Workforce Lead Commissioner, PPMA Past President and Former Executive Director of People & Transformation at Essex County Council
When a local authority faces severe financial or governance failures, central government intervention changes the rules of engagement overnight. But what actually happens when The Commissioners move in, and how does the Human Resources and Organisational Development (HR&OD) landscape shift under statutory powers?
In this session, Pam Parkes, Workforce Lead Commissioner, PPMA Past President, and Former Executive Director of People & Transformation at Essex County Council, steps behind the headline-grabbing crises to deliver this Masterclass, and the raw realities of council turnarounds. Crucially, drawing directly from her unique vantage point at the epicenter of major interventions, Pam will reveal the hidden workforce red flags every HR Director must spot to “commissioner-proof” their own council before a crisis hits.
15:50 – 16:00
Conference Close – Reflections and Key Messages
Looking Back
While we prepare for the 2026 conference, explore content from previous PPMA Virtual Conferences.
Watch moments from PPMA’s Virtual Conference 2025
Watch Previous Conference Sessions
Browse our video library featuring presentations and panel discussions from past events.
Previous Conferences
Explore past conference programmes, speakers and session content.
